Seattle Sounders v. Toronto FC preview: The Hangover

So how 'bout that game Wednesday night, eh?

You can forgive Toronto FC fans for still revelling in the afterglow of that 2-1 win in LA a couple of days ago. After all, their club has hardly showered itself in glory during its five-plus year history.

The historic win is, indeed, much reason to celebrate. And what an incredible way to kick off the hope-filled 2012 campaign.

That's where the reality sets in. TFC has yet to even kick an MLS ball in anger, and yet the team is still coming down from arguably its highest high. And they need to do it fast, because tomorrow brings about the MLS season opener in Seattle, against a side that suffered an embarrasing exit from the same competition in which the Reds are somehow the final Major Soccer League team standing.

Both clubs could be facing a Champions League hangover, ironically on the most alcohol-fuelled night of the year.

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While Toronto is on an emotional high and in possible danger of losing sight of its 2012 league debut, the Sounders are coming from the complete opposite side of the spectrum.

Seattle's players could use the spanking they received in Torreon against TFC's future semifinal opponents as motivation, and come out hostile and determined to take their frustrations out on the visiting Toronto squad. One would imagine that the 40,000+ in attendance at CenturyLink Field will be out for blood after having seen their team taken behind the woodshed in the midweek.

That said, the Sounders could also react to the CCL loss in much the same way that TFC's previous opponents -- the LA Galaxy -- did following an emotionally-charged loss to RSL. Seattle could let the stink of a poor performance linger, allowing the eager Reds to snatch a victory.

However Seattle reacts, Aron Winter needs to have his players ready for anything. That means having brought the TFC players back down to Earth in time to adequately prepare for the wounded animal that is the Sounders squad. Just like he did in advance of the game on Wednesday, Winter needs to get the Reds up to their opportunistic best, because a well-timed Toronto goal on Saturday night could be all it takes to unravel a fragile opponent.

Questions, questions, questions: With the focus finally shifted onto the league, one has to wonder if Winter will alter the gameplan from the tooth-and-nail strategy employed in both CCL matches so far this year.

Will he continue to employ the modified 3-4-3 with Torsten Frings marshalling the backline, or does he give his captain a bit more free reign and revert the tactics back to a 4-3-3 formation?

Also, given Milos Kocic's heroics two days ago, does the goalkeeper "platoon" system stay in effect, or will Kocic be given the nod in front of the massive Seattle crowd?

How much playing time will guys like Danny Koevermans, Joao Plata and Julian de Guzman get, given that all three were subbed out on Wednesday and at least two of them (Koevermans and de Guzman) are not quite at 100 percent fitness?

Does Luis Silva, who has a slight touch of the flu, get the nod in the attacking midfield role, or does Eric Avila step in?

These are just some of the questions that face Toronto FC as it embarks on the first step of a long league campaign, one that got just a little bit longer thanks to the midweek success.

Possible Starting XI:

Seattle Sounders FC v. Toronto FC

Saturday, March 17, 2012. 7:00pm PDT / 10:00pm EDT.

CenturyLink Field. Seattle, WA.

Watch: Sportsnet One, MLS Live

Listen: Sportsnet 590 The Fan, FAN590.com

Rudi Schuller contributes Toronto FC, MLS, and Canadian national team content to the 24th Minute. He is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams, and he has spent time as soccer editor for Reuters' online publications. He has also contributed to Goal.com and other soccer media. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.